USA TODAY International Edition
Trump gave us all the answers we needed
Only one candidate appeared presidential
Tuesday night’s first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden was an utter disgrace — one filled with childish insults, overwrought bullying, bald- face lies and incessant interruptions. TV pundits breathlessly proclaimed that Americans didn’t get the answers they were so desperately seeking and deserved.
I disagree.
The single most important answer became crystal clear: Only one man on that Cleveland stage appeared even remotely presidential. And it wasn’t the person occupying the Oval Office.
On three topics in particular — election fairness, a peaceful transfer of power and race relations — Trump reinforced his desire to tear at the social fabric of American society. He’s not hiding who he is or how desperate he has become. His assertions are bold — and dangerous.
I watched the debate, in part, intending to assess which candidate exhibited more mental fitness, after months of listening to Trump take jabs at Biden’s competence, intellect and stamina. How many facts might be flubbed? Would we hear a few gaffes or unintentional moments of levity we’d all be able to giggle about the next day?
Instead, Trump’s shameful display of petulance and perfidy overshadowed any possible discussions about cognitive ability. His 90- minute performance shook American democracy to its core. And soon it could be plunged into crisis.
Trump’s egregious efforts to undermine confidence in America’s voting system were center stage, as he warned of potential election malfeasance because of mail- in ballots.
“This is going to be a fraud like you’ve never seen,” he said. “We might not know for months because these ballots are going to be all over.”
‘ Watch very carefully’
It’s clear Trump wants to disrupt a fair election and is encouraging voter intimidation on Election Day: “I’m urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully. Because that is what has to happen.”
Polls suggest Biden is winning this election, and Trump is in defense mode. His desperation is evident. The president has repeatedly refused to pledge to accept the results of the election, and Tuesday he confirmed he is anticipating action by the Supreme Court to settle any election disputes. He’s not leaving office without a fight.
“Yeah, I think I’m counting on them to look at the ballots, definitely,” Trump said. “I hope we don’t need them, in terms of the election itself. But for the ballots, I think so, because what’s happening is incredible.”
Supreme Court aside, Trump also made a flagrant call to arms to defend his presidency. When the debate moderator, Chris Wallace of Fox News, asked whether Trump would condemn white supremacist groups and militia who are inciting violence in American cities and ask them to stand down, the president instead emboldened them. “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,” Trump said, referring to a far- right group that has endorsed white nationalism and violence. “But I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left.”
The Proud Boys group immediately celebrated its newfound fame.
Divide and conquer
Trump’s peddling hate and disruption. His words will have consequences beyond the election. With COVID- 19 ravaging our country, a struggling economy and a reckoning with race, America is already in a fragile state. Yet he continues to employ divide- andconquer tactics instead of exhibiting leadership and a desire to unite.
Biden is not a perfect presidential candidate. Nonetheless, he did his best Tuesday to mount a substantive argument as to why he is better suited to take office, all while under attack. There were times when he took Trump’s childish bait — “Will you shut up, man!” — and was visibly frustrated with the process. But Biden also made an effort to talk directly to voters, peering into the camera and addressing his would- be constituents.
Those moments mattered. Those moments showcased the adult in the room, the man with a mission to communicate his desire to serve and pull the United States back from the brink of destruction.
No, Americans didn’t get to hear much about policy; it was nearly impossible to discern any real answers with all the crosstalk and yelling. The debate left many of us feeling frustrated and sickened. But we saw enough.